THE THIRD PROFESSOR PETER GILBERT MEMORIAL LECTURE

WEDNESDAY 24TH MAY 2017 BY DR. ANDREW POWELL

Whither the soul of psychiatry?

Mental Healthcare in the twenty first century is facing an epidemic crisis of demand. In the UK and other 'developed countries', as well as 2 per cent who experience severe mental illness, up to 20 per cent of the population are now taking prescription drugs for depression and anxiety, at a global cost in excess of 80 billion dollars annually and rising.

Why is this happening and what can be done about it? I will be exploring how life in the industrial world with its culture of material realism is impacting on the human spirit. Rather than live unquestioningly with what may turn out to be a diagnosis of convenience, our patients need help to make sense of their unhappiness and confusion. In such cases, mental distress can be the spur that brings a person into alignment with their true self, and the values that give meaning and purpose to life.

Biography:

Dr Andrew Powell read natural sciences at Cambridge. Following postgraduate studies in general medicine, he trained at the Maudsley Hospital in psychiatry and psychotherapy before holding consultant and academic posts in London and Oxford. Andrew’s widening interests led to further trainings in psychodrama, spiritual healing and transpersonal psychology. He is Founding Chair of the Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, UK (www.rcpsych.ac.uk/spirit), co-editor of ‘Spirituality and Psychiatry’ (RCPsych Publications, 2009) and ‘Spirituality and Narrative in Psychiatric Practice: Stories of Mind and Soul’ (RCPsych Publications, 2016) and author of 'The Ways of the Soul. A psychiatrist reflects: Essays on life, death and beyond' (in press, 2017).

Guest speaker: Dr. Andrew Powell

Venue:St. Ethelburga’s, 78 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AG

Time: 2.00 to 4.45pm

Attendance Certificate: this will be made available via email in PDF format on request

Concessions: under some extenuating circumstances, we are able to offer a very small quantity of lower priced tickets. If you feel this may apply to yourself, please contact Brian Bingham

Lecture: it is hoped that both the lecture and question & answer session will be voice recorded, which paid Members will be able to listen to

MEMORIAL LECTURE 2017

Public Transport

The Centre is five minutes walk from both Bank and Liverpool Street stations (Zone 1). You can walk over the bridge from London Bridge Station in about 15 minutes.

Use the Transport for London Journey Planner to plan your route. Our postcode is EC2N 4AG.

By car

It is difficult to park near the Centre. If you want to use a car the nearest car park is the NCP - London Rodwell House in Strype Street, London E1 7LF (020 7247 7923). You can stop directly outside the building in the loading bay for a maximum of 20 minutes for deliveries and pick-ups.

The Centre is fully accessible with wheelchair-accessible lavatory facilities and a hearing loop. Please contact us in advance if you are coming by car.